Hand writing implement



Aug. 29, 1967 B. J. HARRISON 3,338,217

HAND WRITING IMPLEMENT Filed Sept. 27, 1965 Y 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Au 29, 1967 B. J. HARRISON 3,338,217

HAND WRITING IMPLEMENT Filed Sept. 27, 1965 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 United States Patent Ofilice 3,338,217 Patented Aug. 29, 1967 3,338,217 HAND WRITING IMPLEMENT Bede J. Harrison, 950 N. th Road, Richmond, British Columbia, Canada Filed Sept. 27, 1965, Ser. No. 490,275 2 Claims. (Cl. 12098) My invention relates to writing implements.

One of the earliest writing implements is a stylus, a pointed bodkin of metal, bone, or ivory, used for producing incised lettering on, for instance, wax coated tablets. Hollow bamboo and similar stocks have been used for writing, and still are to an extent in certain countries. The quill pen was in common use at least as early as the 6th century. Metal pens were known in classical times, but nibs adapted for use in a holder did not become common until the 19th century. Development continued to produce the present writing devices; fountain pens, automatic pencils, and ball point penswhich latter appear to be displacing other writing instruments today.

These devices, from the early stylus to the present day ball point pen, have in common that they are adapted to be used held between the thumb and forefinger with support from the middle finger, the shaft of the implement extending above the hand between the thumb and forefinger.

This common posture has certain disadvantages as is well known-particularly to those who write a great deal and are subject to writers cramp. For people whose hands have marked tremor, and for those having wrist and finger joints the normal action of which is impeded by rheumatic or arthritic condition, writing becomes difficult or nearly impossibleaccording to the severity of the affliction.

For those who have one or more fingers off the writing hand, writing is difficult and may be nearly impossible depending upon the number of fingers lost and the severity of the injury. This is so regardless of whether or not the hand is, otherwise, normal. Such people can be taught to write with the other hand and may, with perseverance, attain a useful degree of competence. That procedure is generally of little avail in a condition of tremor, arthritis, etc., Where both hands are likely to be afiiicted.

Hitherto, it appears that the difliculties were, in the limit, considered so formidable as to be incapable of effective solution by means of an improved writing implement. However I am able greatly to reduce these difficulties by means of a writing implement having a writing element and a holder, or body portion, thereto attached, the body portion being characterized in that it is shaped to lit the palm of the Writing hand, to be retained within it.

The body portion terminates in a butt end, the whole body structure being constructed and arranged so that the butt end may rest slidably upon the writing surface for additional support and, when in such position, the writing element is disposed at a suitable angle to the writing surface.

I further provide an embodiment having adjustment means between curved body portions such that skewed curvature of the body may thereby be produced, comfortably and effectively to fit hands having certain deformities.

I call the device of my invention a hand writing implement. Using my hand writing implement those afilicted as above are able to write with improved facility and legibility, which may approach normal in favorable cases.

Specific examples of my invention are described in detail below, with reference to the drawings, of which:

FIGURE 1 is a side elevation of the hand writing implement of the invention,

FIGURE 2 is a diagram to illustrate the curvatures of the implement,

FIGURE 3 is a plan view of an alternative embodiment of the invention having skew curvature means,

FIGURE 4 is an enlarged detail section of a joint between body parts of the FIGURE 3 embodiment, showing the joint elements separated,

FIGURE 5 is a section on 55 of FIGURE 1,

FIGURE 6 is a common writing instrument of the prior art, in use,

FIGURE 7 shows my invention in use, associated with a normal hand,

FIGURE 8 shows my invention in use, with a hand of which the thumb and forefinger have been amputated.

Detail description of an embodiment of my invention suitable for use by those having an undeformed writing hand of average size is now given with reference to FIG- URES 1 and 2.

In FIGURE 1, the hand writing implement is indicated generally by the numeral 10, and includes a writing element 11 and a body indicated generally by the numeral 12. The implement has an axis 13. The body includes a guiding portion 14, a holding portion 15, and a butt portion 16. The numeral 17 indicates the plane of a writing surface. The body 12 is shaped comfortably to fit the palm of the hand of a person writing with the implement.

FIGURE 2 is a diagram, related to the axis 13 aforesaid, to illustrate the shape of the implement. Parts of the axis 13 associated with.the writing element, and with the guiding holding and butt portions, 11, 14, 15, 16, respectively of FIGURE 1, are indicated in FIGURE 2, respectively, by the numerals 11, 14', 15', 16'.

The axes 11' and 16' of the writing element and butt are straight. The axis 15' of the guiding portion is curved, having a radius of two inches comfortably to fit the palm of an average hand. The axis 14 of the guiding part is more sharply curved, normally having a radius of about an inch. The numeral 18 indicates a common tangent to the curves 14', 15'. The deflection angle between the writing element axis 11 and the common tangent 18 is 25 and the deflection angle between the said common tangent and the butt axis 16' is 65.

In FIGURE 2, the end of the butt remote from the writing element is shown in broken outline referenced 19. For the shape shown, when the butt end is in contact with the writing surface as indicated at 17', the writing element axis 11' is at an angle of 50 thereto. In the FIGURE 1 position, corresponding to 17 FIGURE 2, the angle of the writing element to the writing surface is 60". This results in an overall length of the implement of about five inches, the same length as that of a typical ball point pen.

It will be understood that for people having unusually large hands, or for children, I can provide a body of much larger or smaller size as might be required, maintaining however, proportions shown in FIGURES 1 and 2. That is to say, a change in size will increase or decrease the radii above proportionately, maintaining the deflection angles stated.

The alternative embodiment of FIGURE 3 may be used by those having hands which are deformed, either by loss of one or more fingers, or in other ways.

FIGURE 3 is a plan view showing a joint 20 between the writing element 11 and the adjacent guiding portion 14, and a similar joint 21 between the guiding portion 14 and the holding portion 15.

The joint 20 is shown in section at enlarged scale in FIGURE 4, wherein the joint elements are separated. A tapered bore 22 having a sidewall 23 is formed at the end 24 of the writing element 11, the adjoining curved guiding portion 14 has a cooperating tapered male member 25. The male member is inserted in the bore and pressed inwards, so that a resilient ring 27 between the flange 26 and the writing element end 24 is compressed when the tapered member 25 is in contact with the bore sidewall 23. The joint 21 between the guiding portion 14 and the holding portion 15, which joint is not shown in detail, is similar;

It is seen that the guiding portion 14 may be rotated With respect to the writing element 11 as desired, and can be secured in a required angular position. Similarly,

the holding portion 15 is securable to the guiding portion- 14 in such position as may be required.

- Thus a variety of body shapes can readily be attained, such as for example the shape shown in plan in FIG- URE 3.

The body may be of any suitable material, for instance plastic. As is well known in the art, the surface should not be slippery. As shown in FIGURE 5, the body is circular in section. It may however be oval, or it may be of other shape. Comm-on pens and pencils are about threetenths of an inch in diameter. The body of my device is much larger, say three-quarters of an inch, tapering to half an inch or less at the butt end 19. The size is not critical, it is a matter of comfortable grasp.

The writing element itself is not a part of the invention. My hand writing implement is adapted to use with a common nib, or as a fountain pen, or as a ball point device. In the case of a ball point embodiment, the type having a flexible inking tube is used-such tube is obviously inserted in an axial bore 28 FIGURES 4 and 5. If a lead pencil embodiment is desired, it is apparent that my implement would accept a short lead secured, for instance, by obvious chuck means.

Referring to FIGURES 1 and 2, the axial curvatures as stated above are suitable for normal hands of average size, however for such average hands the curvatures are not critical. The holding portion axial curvature may be altered by about plus or minus twenty percent, corresponding to a radius of from about 1.6 to 2.4 inches, Without discomfort. The curvature of the guiding portion axis may also be altered, here it is only necessary to avoid sharp corners. In any case, the curvature of the holding portion is materially less than that of the guiding portion. The embodiments above have been described as comprising circular curve elements. It is well known that other curves, for instance certain spiral curves, may be designed to have a shape closely similar to the particular curved axis shapes described. Such curves are equivalent, and may be used in substitution for the particular shapes given.

Whatever particular curvatures are adopted within the limits above, these particular curvatures will, as before explained, reduce or enlarge proportionately when the implement is designed for very small or for very large hands.

The deflection angles between the elements of the implement are also not critical. The deflection angle of 65 between the common tangent 18 FIGURE 2 and the butt axis 16' is optimum, but is not critical. I have found that angles between about 60 and about 70 are comfrtable-comfort is the criterion. The deflection angle between the writing element axis 11' and the common tangent 18 has been given as 25. Here too any angle between about 20 and about 30 is satisfactory.

As has been stated, these angles are independent of size.

The angle of the writing element to the writing surface is not critical with pencil or ball point within limits exceeding the limits above as given with reference to FIG- URE 2.. With the butt 19 in contact with the writing surface the writing element is held at 50 thereto. In a normal writing position, with the butt clear of the paper the angle becomes 60. The 50 angle attained with the butt in contact with the writing surface is not critical; and may be varied-by adopting a diiferent length of the butt portion-according to the nature of the writing element. With certain pen nibs an angle of 40 might be desirable, and. with fine nibs the angle may be critical. I

find that limits of between 40 and 65 to be generally suitable.

In the normal embodiment, FIGURES 1 and 2, the axis 17 lies within a plane. In the adjustable embodiment FIGURE 3, it is seen that the writingelement and the guiding and holding portions of the body, may be adjustably skewed from that plane. This has a purpose already indicated, namely to permit the body to be adjustably shaped best to fit a deformed hand. When, after sufficient trial, the user is satisfied that the best and most comfortable shape has been attained, the joints 21, 22 may be cemented together. Users requiring the adjustable embodiment of FIGURE 3 will, it is likely, write with the butt 19 in contact with the writing surface. Asia the normal embodiment, in the FIGURE 3 embodiment the length of the butt portion may be changed to provide an optimum angle between the writing surface and the writing element according to the nature of the particular writing element used.

It is not important that the particular adjustment means shown in FIGURE 4 be adhered to, any equivalent structure to effect rotatable adjustment may be substituted. As well as adapting the body to a deformed hand, the adjustment serves an additional purpose, which will be explained later.

FIGURE 6 shows an ordinary writing implement in use, the usual motions of the fingers, wrist, and forearms, are common knowledge and therefore are not here described.

FIGURE 7 shows my device in use by a person with a normal hand. While there are variations depending upon individual perference, suitably the guiding portion 14 is held between the thumb and forefinger as shown, with the body of the implement maintained between the remaining fingers and the palm of the hand. In a normal writing position, the thenar pads, wrist, and forearm, rest upon the writing surface. 7

Where the writer has tremulous hands, or where there is a bad joint condition, the butt end 19 (which does not appear in FIGURE 7) may rest slidably on the writing surface for additional support. Writing can of course be accomplished without any motion of the finger joints or wrist joint. In this way, people with such afilictions who were able to Write, if at all, only with difliculty, are now able to Write with comparative ease and facility.

FIGURE 8 shows a hand with the thumb and first finger amputated. A person with a hand so injured is (when the hand is otherwise normal) able to write with nearly normal facility and legibility using my hand writing implement. In severe injuries where all of the fingers have been lost, in many instances writing may be accomplished as herein described, in the circumstances above the limit of utility is reached if the disability is such that the palm cannot retain or guide the implement.

Referring 'still to FIGURE 8, using the body embodiment of FIGURE 1, the writing element will, due to the structure of the body 12, be readily held at an acceptable angle to the plane of the writing surface 17, as before explained. With a writing element having a nib, it may however be that, in holding the body in the most comfortable position, the nib points may not be properly placed with respect to the writing surface. In these circumstances, the adjustable embodiment FIGURE 3 should be used, when adjustment can readily be effected by rotation of the writing element in the joint 20 so that both nib points are in contact with the writing surface.

It is apparent that my hand writing implement can be used to advantage by those having afllictions other than those of which specific description has been given, and it is to be understood that my basic invention is capable of embodiment in structures other than those of which I have given examples. a

What I claim is:

1. A writing implement comprising an elongated rod shaped body including a relatively short and longitudi nally curved guiding portion provided at one end thereof with ink or graphite depositing means extending tangentially from said one end of the guiding portion, a relatively long and longitudinally curved holding portion constituting a continuation of the other end of said guiding portion, and a straight butt portion constituting a tangential continuation of said holding portion and terminating in a butt end adapted to slidably rest on a writing surface, said holding portion having a substantially shallower curvature than said guiding portion and being adapted to conformably fit the palm of a writers hand, said rod-shaped body being articulated and having said guiding portion formed separately from said holding portion, and an axially rotatably adjustable joint connecting the guiding and holding portions together whereby the respective curvatures of the guiding and holding portions may be disposed in different angularly olfset planes, said joint connecting said guiding and holding portions comprising an axially projecting frusto-conical connector member provided on one of said last-mentioned portions, the other of said last-mentioned portions being provided with an axially inwardly extending frusto-conical socket, said connector member being frictionally held in said socket, and an annular gasket of resiliently compressible material interposed between said guiding and holding portions on said connector member, said gasket being compressed when the connector member is frictionally fitted into said socket.

2. The device as defined in claim 1, wherein said guiding portion is formed separately from said ink or graphite depositing means, together with a second axially rotatably adjustable joint connecting said ink or graphite depositing means to the guiding portion.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 426,324 4/1390 Ramsey 1o2 1,433,114 12/1922 Hume 120 -107 1,848,605 3/1932 Conway 120107X 2,497,413 2/1950 Schroeder 120 1o7 'FOREIGN PATENTS 674,641 4/1939 Germany.

LAWRENCE CHARLES, Primary Examiner. 

1. A WRITING IMPLEMENT COMPRISING AN ELONGATED RODSHAPED BODY INCLUDING A RELATIVELY SHORT AND LONGITUDINALLY CURVED GUIDING PORTION PROVIDED AT ONE END THEREOF WITH INK OR GRAPHITE DEPOSITING MEANS EXTENDING TANGENTIALLY FROM SAID ONE END OF THE GUIDING PORTION, A RELATIVELY LONG AND LONGITUDINALLY CURVED HOLDING PORTION CONSTITUTING A CONTINUATION OF THE OTHER END OF SAID GUIDING PORTION, AND A STRAIGHT BUTT PORTION CONSTITUTING A TANGENTIAL CONTINUATION OF SAID HOLDING PORTION AND TERMINATING IN A BUTT END ADAPTED TO SLIDABLY REST ON A WRITING SURFACE, SAID HOLDING PORTION HAVING A SUBSTANTIALLY SHALLOWER CURVATURE THAN SAID GUIDING PORTION AND BEING ADAPTED TO CONFORMABLY FIT THE PALM OF A WRITER''S HAND, SAID ROD-SHAPED BODY BEING ARTICULATED AND HAVING SAID GUIDING PORTION FORMED SEPARATELY FROM SAID HOLDING PORTION, AND AN AXIALLY ROTATABLY ADJUSTABLE JOINT CONNECTING THE GUIDING AND HOLDING PORTIONS TOGETHER WHEREBY THE RESPECTIVE CURVATURES OF THE GUIDING AND HOLDING PORTIONS MAY BE DISPOSED IN DIFFERENT ANGULARLY OFFSET PLANES, SAID JOINT CONNECTING SAID GUIDING AND HOLDING PORTIONS COMPRISING AN AXIALLY PROJECTING FRUSTO-CONICAL CONNECTOR MEMBER PROVIDED ON ONE OF SAID LAST-MENTIONED PORTIONS, THE OTHER OF SAID LAST-MENTIONED PORTIONS BEING PROVIDED WITH AN AXIALLY INWARDLY EXTENDING FRUSTO-CONICAL SOCKET, SAID CONNECTOR MEMBER BEING FRICTIONALLY HELD IN SAID SOCKET, AND AN ANNULAR GASKET OF RESILIENTLY COMPRESSIBLE MATERIAL INTERPOSED BETWEEN SAID GUIDING AND HOLDING PORTIONS OF SAID CONNECTOR MEMBER, SAID GASKET BEING COMPRESSED WHEN THE CONNECTOR MEMBER IS FRICTIONALLY FITTED INTO SAID SOCKET. 